Evaporator valve mechanism



Jan. l, 1935. F. G. sLAGEl.

EVAPORATOR VALVE MECHANISM Filed Jan.- 9, 1930 Y Patented Jan. 1, 1935UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE Applicaton January 9, 1930, Serial No.419,721

1 Claim.

This invention relates to refrigerating systems, and more particularlyto mechanism for controlling the flow of refrigerant into theevaporator.

An object of the invention is to provide a refrigerant control mechanismwhich can be withdrawn as a unit from an evaporator suillciently todetach and remove a valve member.

Another object of the-invention is to provide a permanently sealedevaporator, of the flooded type, in which an automatically actuatedrefrigerant inlet flow control mechanism including a lioat can bepartially withdrawn from the evaporator to inspect, service or replacethe valve or its seat.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an evaporator formechanical refrigerating systems in which the refrigerant inlet controlmechanism is highly eflicient in operation and of marked simplicity as awhole and in respect to its component parts, so that its manufacture iseconomically facilitated.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription taken in connection with the drawing, which forms a part ofthe specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of anevaporator and refrigerant inlet control mechanism therefor.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary similar view with the valve control mechanismpartially withdrawn from the evaporator.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the control mechanism taken on line 3-3 ofFig. 1.

Referring to the drawing by characters of refeence, l0 representsgenerally an evaporator which forms part of a refrigerating system ofthe compressor-condenser-evaporator type. A closed vessel is employed tocontain an accumulation of liquid refrigerant and oil, and in thisinstance comprises a sheet metal shell 11 having an open end permanentlyclosed by the plate or wall 12, such vessel sections being securedtogether in leak proof relation.

An outlet tube 13 extends through the upper r portion of the end wall 12and is bent downwardly within the interior of the vessel. The end wallis provided with a hollow boss 14 for the reception of a cylindricalbody 15 which supports the float and carries the valve and its seat,such body projecting through the end wall in close relation with theboss. In order to detachably secure the body to the wall, I provide itwith a shoulder 16 which is engaged by the threaded cap 17 and pressedthereby tightly against a gasket 18 seated against the outer end of theboss,

the cap being screwed upon the boss for this purpose. A'union 19 screwsinto the end of the body and establishes communication with thecondenser (not shown).

The inner end of the body terminates in an arm 20 to which is pivotallyconnected the open float 21, a bracket 22 being fixed to the float andhaving a recess 23 into which the arm 20 extends, the arm beingpivotally secured to the bracket by the pin 24. The pin 24 is secured inposition by a cotter pin 25. Oil moving in cycle with the refrigerantwill gradually creep over the open edges and into the oat, and with thegasied refrigerant is removed through the outlet tube 13 which extendsinto the float and leads to the compressor (not shown), suction by thecompressor causing such removal. l

The body 15 is also provided with a passage 26 extending axiallytherethrough, and a removy able valve member seat 2'7 having arestricted 29 passage 28 therethrough is screwed into the body passagefrom the exterior end thereof. A passage 26' in the body provides anoutlet from the passage 26 to the interior of the vessel. A needle valve29 projects into the passage 26 through the inner end of the body, and`is reciprocably associated with the inner end of the seat member 27 tocontrol the passage of refrigerant through the body, the valve extendinginto the bracket recess 23 and being pivotally secured by the detachablepin 30 which extends through the bracket and is secured by the cotterpin 3l.

The inner end wall of the valve member 27 is formed as al circular edge33 which is pressed tightly against the shoulder 34 within the body toprovide a leak proof contact, thus eliminating the necessity of a gasketor other form of metallic sealing means. The outer end of the valve seatmember is formed with suitable recesses'into which a tool can beinserted to screw it into or from the body.

As the accumulation of liquid refrigerant in the vessel falls, the floatlikewise moves therewith and moves the valve away from the seat,allowing refrigerant to flow into the vessel through the passage 26'.The oat rises with the accumulation level and moves the valve to closethe passage through the seat, thus shutting of! the inflow of therefrigerant to the vessel. The valve t in the arm, or the fit of the pin30 is such that reciprocation of the valve during pivotal movement ofthe oat can result, such float movement being small between the open andl closed positions.

The float bracket is small enough to be drawn partiallythrough theopening in the boss 14, and when the cap 17 is unscrewed the body,together with a portion of the oat bracket ,can be pulled exteriorly ofthe vessel wall. Such withdrawal allows inspection orremoval of theneedle valve from thev exterior of the evaporator. It also permitsremoval o f.v either or both of the pins 24 and`30 sothat the Lvalve or`the body 15 can be.--removed andls'erviced or replaced. Furthermore,-it willfbev seen that removal of the coupling 19 will'permit removal ofthe valve seat from the body, either when assembled or removed from thevessel wall.

'Ihe delicacy of the refrigerant inlet control mechanism is well knownand the structure described aords a quick'and inexpensive servicing orreplacement of parts thereof from the exterior of the vessel withoutremoval of a wall section.

Although this invention has been described in connection with certainspecic embodiment, the principles involved are susceptible to numerousother applications which will readily occur to persons skilled in theart, and the invention is therefore to be limited only as indicated bythe scope of the appended claim.

What I vclaim is:

In an evaporator for refrigerating systems, a vesselfor containingliquid refrigerant having a sealed end wall with an openingtherethrough, a withdrawable body extending through the opening in thewall of the vessel, said body having a refrigerant inlet passageextending therethrough, a oat in the vessel having a reduced bracketportion pivoted to the inner end of the body and partially removabletherewith through the wall opening to a position exterior of the vesselpermitting detachment of the body therefrom, and valve means detachablyassociated with the reduced bracket portion of the iioat and the bodyfor controlling refrigerant ow through the body,

and a single detachable means for fixing the body 20 in leak-proofrelation with the vessel wall.

FRANKLIN G. SLAGEL.

